Dispatch From Vietnam

The Nation, April 14, 2003 issue
by Peter Davis


Hanoi - In this country, where a US military attack echoes more loudly perhaps than anywhere else in the world, protesters against the war are expressing themselves from Hanoi in the north to central Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta in the south. At Nha Trang, a resonant place-name in our old war, 7,000 people demonstrated against our new one. The chief sentiment is not support for Saddam Hussein but, in light of the Vietnamese experience with the American military, sympathy for the Iraqi people.

Bill harms Viet Nam-US relations

Tue, 04/08/2003 - 12:12


Ha Noi, Apr. 7 (VNA) - Congressman Chris Smith (Rep.) of New Jersey, Ed Royce (Rep.) and Zoe Lofgren (Dem.), both of California last Thursday held a press briefing to announce their submission of the so-called "2003 Viet Nam Human Rights Bill" to the US House of Representatives for approval. The Vietnamese government has said the document's release will run counter to the development in friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and the US, as the document distorts the human rights situation in Viet Nam.

US professor opposes HR1587

Tue, 04/08/2003 - 11:16

NB: The Embassy of the S.R. Viet Nam in Washington DC received the following letter from Professor Kenneth J. Herrmann, Jr. With his permission, the Embassy hereby posts the letter in its entirity on our website for public viewing.

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05 April 2003

Rep. Henry Hyde, Chairman
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on International Relations
2110 Rathburn HOB
Washington, DC 205-1306

The facts about Human Rights and religious freedom in Viet Nam

Tue, 04/08/2003 - 11:06

The “Human Rights Act of Viet Nam – 2003” – H.R. 1587, which purports to promote “the US concern about human rights in Viet Nam” is a unilateral approach to an issue very sensitive to the relationship between Viet Nam and the United States for the people of each country have suffered greatly in the past war.

1) We would like to share our understanding of the importance of human rights as a principle.

Viet Nam upholds its religious freedoms

Fri, 04/04/2003 - 16:27

(Viet Nam News, April 4, 2003)

By Minh Chau

Freedom to practise a religion of choice remains an indispens-able human right.

Viet Nam is a country with many faiths, where believers of more than 10 religions live together peacefully under the same roof.

The country boasts more than 24 million religious people, or nearly one-third of the population.

The six major religions are Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Cao Dai and Hoa Hao.

Religious beliefs honoured

Vietnam considers humanitarian aid to Iraq

Fri, 04/04/2003 - 16:04



Vietnam may join in international efforts to offer humanitarian aid to Iraq, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Phan Thuy Thanh said on April 3.

She said Vietnam has been following the developments in Iraq with great concern. The people of Vietnam and Iraq have a traditional relationship, she said, and the Vietnamese people are profoundly sympathetic to the sufferings and losses of the war which are causing to the Iraqi people.

HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN VIETNAM-US RELATIONS

On April 3, 2003, Congressman Christopher H. Smith (R. NJ) and several co-sponsors held a press conference introducing the so-called “The Human Rights Act of Vietnam – 2003”. This move runs counter to the advancing relationship and cooperation between Vietnam and the United States, and creates a false understanding of human rights in Vietnam.

Following are comments of the Press Bureau of the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the issue:

VASEP's new initiatives to solve fish dispute

Ha Noi, Apr. 3 (VNA)-The Viet Nam Association of Seafood exporters and processors (VASEP) has put forth inititives to help resolve the Viet Nam-U.S dispute over tra and basa catfish.

VASEP said that the initiatives which could help create a win-win situation include the following:

-Apply quota for tra and basa fillets from 2003-2005: the 2003 quota equals to 90 percent, the 2004 quota equals to 95 percent and abd the 2005 quota equals to 100 percent of 2002. As from 2005, quota will not be applied. Quota will be distributed publicly in transparency.

Viet Nam protests U.S. report on human rights

Thu, 04/03/2003 - 11:59

Ha Noi, Apr. 3 (VNA) - Viet Nam flatly rejects allegations by the U.S. Department of State in the latter's 2002 report on human rights around the world, said a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.

The spokeswoman, Phan Thuy Thanh, in response to a question by Vietnam News Agency, described the report as "blatant interference in Viet Nam's internal affairs."

She said "the U.S. authorities are not eligible to speak about human rights to criticize the human rights situation in other countries, particularly in light of the current situation."

VN awards friendship medal to US documentary director

Viet Nam New, March 24, 2003

HA NOI — American filmmaker Peter Davis, director of the Oscar-winning documentary Hearts and Minds, has been awarded the "Peace and Friendship among Nations" medal for his contribution to Viet Nam’s struggle for national independence.

The medal was presented last Thursday, marking the occasion of Peter’s return to Viet Nam after 30 years by Vu Xuan Hong, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisation.

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